Retractable backlight

Abstract

The invention is a backlight assembly which attaches to the roof section to form a convertible top of a vehicle when the roof and the assembly are both in the raised positions. The backlight assembly and the roof section have independent linkage mechanisms which allow each to be positioned independent of the other. The predetermined path of the backlight panel as defined by the linkage mechanism and the guideframe combines both rotational and sliding movements. This is accomplished by initially radically rotating the panel in a counterclockwise manner and then moving the panel along a substantially horizontal plane. When the backlight panel reaches the extreme rearward portion of the guidetracks, the panel is situated in a substantially horizontal position beneath the rear decklid.

I claim: 
     
       1. A backlight assembly which is attachable to a roof section of a convertible vehicle, the vehicle having a right rear wheel well and a left rear wheel well separated by a distance, the vehicle having side walls, the assembly comprising: (a) a backlight panel which attaches to the roof when the roof section and the panel are in a raised position, the backlight panel having a width that is almost the distance between the wheel wells;   (b) a pair of linkage mechanisms which are pivotally connected to the backlight panel, one linkage mechanism being disposed on each side of the backlight panel, each linkage mechanism having a driver-track, each driver-track being pivotally connected to the lower end of each linkage mechanism;   (c) means for pivoting power for the controlled movement of the backlight panel between the raised position and a retracted position; and   (d) a pair of guideframes, one guideframe being disposed on each side of the backlight panel, each guideframe being fixedly mounted to side walls of the vehicle, the upper end of each linkage mechanism being pivotally connected to each side of the backlight panel, the lower end of each linkage mechanism operatively connected to one of the guideframes, each driver-track being slidably engaged with each guideframe, the power means being operatively connected to the driver-tracks for slidably movement of the driver-track along the guideframes;   wherein the linkage-mechanism positions the backlight panel in a substantially horizontal alignment detached from the roof section and under a decklid and above the wheel wells when the panel is in the retracted position.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the driver-track slides in a substantially horizontal direction as the backlight panel moves between the raised position and the retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the backlight panel undergoes a radical counterclockwise rotation as the panel moves into the retracted position, such that the panel enters the rear portion of the vehicle in a substantially horizontal position. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power means is electrically connected directly to the driver-track. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power means is a push-pull electrical drive motor.